LANCASTER, Pa. — The Haverford College women's basketball team (8-5, 0-3 CC) suffered its first setback of 2026, falling 60-52 at Franklin & Marshall (8-4, 2-1 CC) on Wednesday afternoon. The contest at the Mayser Center featured four lead changes and two ties, as the Diplomats did just enough to fend off the Fords late.
Haverford was led offensively by Caroline Orza, who poured in a game-high 19 points while adding 12 rebounds for a double-double in a full 40-minute effort. Audrey Jakway was also a steady presence inside, finishing with 12 points and a team-best 10 rebounds, connecting on yet another double-double, while Brianna Feifer chipped in 10 points and anchored the defense with two blocks. Shae Mercer contributed six points and six rebounds, and Bri Heafey added four points to round out the scoring for the Fords.
The Diplomats were paced by Lizzie Neville's 15 points and team-best eight rebounds, while Gia Sioutis (14 points) and Lauren Rusas (12 points) also reached double figures.
As a team, Haverford finished with 52 points on 35.6 percent shooting from the field (21 of 59) and held a significant edge on the glass, out-rebounding Franklin & Marshall 46-40. The Fords controlled the paint with 28 points inside and generated 11 second-chance points off 13 offensive rebounds. Haverford also limited mistakes, committing just 12 turnovers, and recorded 10 assists on its 21 made field goals, while holding the Diplomats to 33.9 percent shooting.
After the Diplomats jumped out to an 11-6 lead early on Steph Sexton's 3-pointer, Orza knocked down a triple to pull Haverford within two at 11-9 with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter. Franklin & Marshall answered with a 9-4 run to push its advantage to seven at 20-13, the largest lead of the half, capped by a Gia Sioutis jumper at the 7:28 mark of the second quarter.
The Fords responded with a 6-0 spurt to close within one, as Jakway's left-handed floater made it 20-17 before a Feifer jumper trimmed the deficit further. The Diplomats then went more than five minutes without a field goal before Hailey Cabanas connected in the closing moments of the half to give F&M a three-point edge.
In the final minute, Mercer and Jakway converted layups on back-to-back Haverford possessions to put the Fords ahead 23-22 at the halftime break, marking Haverford's first lead of the contest.
Feifer and Orza opened the third quarter with baskets to build a 29-24 cushion, prompting a Franklin & Marshall timeout with 7:15 to play in the period. The Diplomats clawed back to regain the lead, but Orza scored on a layup at the 1:09 mark to cut the deficit to one. She followed with another layup with 33 seconds remaining, giving the Fords a 40-39 advantage entering the fourth quarter. Despite the Diplomats briefly tying the score in the stanza, the teams finished the third quarter even at 17 points apiece, maintaining the one-point Haverford edge.
The Fords battled early in the final quarter, with Mercer tying the game at 42 on a jumper with 7:36 to play. Despite Jakway's emphatic block and Orza's layup late in the period, the Fords struggled to maintain momentum against a Franklin & Marshall scoring surge down the stretch. Feifer's late 3-pointer brought Haverford closer, but the Diplomats closed the game to secure the 60-52 victory.
Women's Basketball returns to action Saturday, traveling to Bi-Co neighbor Bryn Mawr for a 1 p.m. Centennial Conference contest at Schwartz Gymnasium.
